Well we’ve reached the halfway point for the first month of 2010. By now most people have forgotten about their New Year’s Resolutions. Usually I don’t make resolutions. Instead I like to focus on a specific area of my life for the upcoming year and try to improve it.
So what is my goal for 2010? In short, I’m going to focus on “communications.” As I try to expand my online businesses, I’ve come to realize that my skills are lacking in a number of key areas. I’m going to fix this by targeting certain aspects of communication. Like the following:
Writing
Improving my writing will be the #1 goal for 2010. This is an area I’ve ignored for a number of years. I have a long-term goal of turning this site into a popular destination for personal development. And this won’t happen if my writing style is driving visitors away.
From January through April, I’m going to focus solely on mastering the written word. Stephen King once said “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” I already read a lot. So for 2010, I’ll be writing a lot.
The best way to improve a skill is to make it a daily habit. Each day I’m going to set aside a few hours and dedicate it to writing. I’ll be doing “drill exercises.” I’m going to write a bunch of blog posts. My information product will be rewritten. And I’ll be churning out a bunch of autoresponders for my online business. Bottom line is I’ll be writing till my fingers fall off!
Speaking
Public speaking used to be one of my biggest fears (I still kind of is). Since I run an online business where I don’t have to talk to customers, I’ve gotten lazy when it comes to my professional speaking skills.
Furthermore the Internet is getting pretty sophisticated. The guys who do well in this business brand themselves through video and audio. So I need to become comfortable with talking in front of a microphone or video camera.
In the spring of 2010 (and beyond) I’m going to join the Toastmasters organization. Here I’ll get to practice my public speaking skills on a regular basis. Also I’m going to create a bunch of multimedia content for this site. This will force me to get into the habit of presenting ideas/concepts in a clear, concise manner. With a bit of practice, I hope to master the skill of public speaking.
Technology
There is a lot of technology I need to master in order to improve my communication skills. Like I said before, I wish to include a bunch of multimedia content on this blog. So I’m going to set aside a few hours each week and teach myself how to use certain pieces of technology.
Specifically I’m going to learn how to use:
· Podcasts (for my audio content)
· Camtasia and/or Camstudio (for my video content)
· Flip Video Camera (also for my video content)
· WordPress plugins and themes (to make this site pretty and usable)
There is a lot more I could add to this list. My main goal here is to stop making excuses. I DO have the time to learn about different technologies. I just have to create a habit where I practice them.
What are Your Goals for 2010?
I would love to hear about your goals for 2010. Do you have professional goals for the New Year? Personal ones? Is there a certain area of your life you wish to improve? Please comment below and let me know what you have planned for the next 11 months!
